A Game Of Chess

6. Brother

Solace Bonnard

I very much enjoyed myself at the festivities that were playing out at the moment. My eyes twinkling as I examine the room, terrified looks and whispers all for me. I am the centre of attention and I'm cherishing it.

You can find me self-centred, I am. Deal with it.

A smile crawling upon my face once I think about how I pissed him off, the great king Rei. I spoke the truth and nothing but the truth as we danced and still, at this very moment, I can feel his eyes piercing through me from afar. The fire in my bones did nothing but explode from within when we were so close, crazy how having a power like that also changes the feeling of touching.

A man enters the ballroom and all eyes are averted from my appearance, directed toward him. May I hate him already? Rei stands from his throne and an amused look decorates his light skin, I've never seen him look that tricky.

The man walks towards the middle of the room, people parting for him and ending up in a circle. He kneels for Rei. "I surrender." I know that voice. King Rei accends from his spot and approaches the man, hovering above him a little before speaking his next words. "Are you the traitor I am looking for, Maverik Yilan?" He asks the man. "I am innocent."

Ah, my fellow prisoner.

"Isn't it more fun to claim whatever you've done? I mean come on, take some credit for your wickedness." I speak, a grin on my face and both hands adding a bit more drama as they float in the air beside me. "Quiet." Rei looks at me and I only tilt my head, making sure I only have eyes for the man on his knees.

I like torture.

"Do you plead guilty, for the crimes of spilling plans to the enemy and therefore losing a soldier?" He asks him again, hand on his sword as he awaits the answer. "Not guilty." Maverik's eyes are towards me, noticing how amused I am by the whole situation.

"Come on Del, give us some action!" The king pulls his sword and lunges toward my body. I duck and light up the dagger that was hidden in the sleeve of my dress, then I raise my body again and hold the blade against his skin as flames fry little bits of his white hair. "I believe that we had a deal, Solace?" I smile and lessen the flame, is he seriously considering that burning his hair is a part of hurting him? "You've hurt me too," I say as my free hand wipes the blood from where his sword sliced my skin lightly. I remove my blade and he steals it out of my hand, I grab his wrist as my hot skin heats his. "I declare Maverik Yilan innocent once he brings me, Ember Bonnard, unharmed." The king's eyes break through mine as he chooses those words very carefully, taking his time to speak the name of my brother aloud.

I almost drop the show, though rearrange myself and let the king go. "You have three weeks, until your execution. Tic-tac." Rei smiles at me and nods, walking back towards his throne and takes his time to sit down.

My brother is alive?

I push myself through the people that gathered together again and make my way to Maverik. "I'll help," I say whilst my eyes shifting rapidly as he stands straight. "Why?" His eyebrows are scrunched together and his eyes glide over my body. "Because I thought that my brother was dead." Maverik eyed the king for a second, who was watching our conversation as if he was eavesdropping on it.

I wonder if he still feels the same for me as my body does for him, even though our minds are screaming for distance.

"Fine." I hear Maverik say. "Great, let's go." I raise the seem of my dress from the floor and start to walk out of the room, serving the middle finger in Delvin's direction. He only smirks as twinkles dance in his eyes.

"So what's your deal?" Maverik asks me when we are alone in the corridors. "I have a hitlist and a contract that I'm trying to get rid of." I answer, not averting my eyes from where I'm walking towards. He is silent for a while and follows me through the hallways. "Well, I am trying not to die." He then says. "I see that you're really good at that." A giggle escaping my lips.

"Mave."

"Sol."